Woodworking

Many serious accidents involving working with woodworking machinery could have been prevented through correct use.

While this guidance has not been updated to reflect current work health and safety legislation (the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and regulations), it may still contain relevant information and practices to keep workers and others healthy and safe.

Please read this guidance in conjunction with all relevant industry standards that apply to you as a PCBU. This guidance will be progressively reviewed and either updated, replaced with other guidance, or revoked.

We have produced guidance for working safely with wood using the following machinery.

Circular saw benches

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when feeding material into blades, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and adjustments. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.

Noise abatement for circular saws

Circular saws are widely used throughout manufacturing. However, noise from circular saws can be extreme, both while cutting and while the saw is idling. We have produced this guide for businesses, operators and workers to manage the level of noise from circular saws.

Four siders

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when cutting and shaping timber, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and adjustments. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.

Horizontal beam and vertical panel saws

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when stacking panels, pushing panels to cut positions and making cuts, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.

Mitre saws

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when presenting timber to the saw, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as electrical fires or explosions, noise and dust.

Mortisers

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when making cuts, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.

Overhand planing machines (buzzers, surface planers)

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when securing the workpiece and feeding timber to the cutters, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.

Pendulum saws (swing saws,cut-off trim saws)

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when positioning the workpiece and making cuts, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.

Radial arm saws

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when feeding and guiding timber through cuts, ripping with a radial arm saw, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.

Rise and fall saws

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when securing and cutting timber, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.

Tenoners

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when pushing timber through cutters, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.

Thicknessers (surfacers and thicknessers, under and over planers)

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when feeding timber into machines, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.

Vertical spindle moulder machine guarding

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when feeding workpieces to cutters as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.

Woodworking CNC machines

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when selecting tools, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as noise and dust.